NIGHT FLIGHT RULES The noisiest types of aircraft are banned between 11.00 pm and 7.00 am. The number of flights between 11.30 pm and 6.00 am is limited by a quota – at present 11,200 in the summer (seven months) and 3,250 in winter. At night, between 2330 and 0600, the noise limit is 87 dBA.

Gatwick Airport operates under a "high-fidelity" noise management regime that strictly limits aircraft movements during the night period, defined as 23:00 to 07:00. The most restrictive window is the "Night Quota Period" from 23:30 to 06:00, during which a "Quota Count" (QC) system is used. Each aircraft is assigned a noise rating; quieter planes have a lower QC, while louder, older aircraft have a higher one. For the period through October 2028, Gatwick has a movement limit of approximately 11,200 flights per year during this quota period. Highly noisy aircraft (QC/8 or QC/16) are banned from flying at night entirely. These restrictions are designed to balance the economic importance of Gatwick as a global hub with the health and wellness of the surrounding communities. Exceptions are only made for emergency landings, humanitarian flights, or widespread air traffic disruption that would cause serious hardship to passengers.